Kemper Military School - Yearbook (Boonville, MO)

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Public Speaking Growing attention is being given to public speaking. This matter is not left to the inefficiency of literary socities, but is taken up as a regular part of class instruction. Numerous debates are held in the English and history classes, not to mention frequentiinter-class debates and several debates with other schools. The members of the graduating class are required to speak several times before the school on timely subjects. Several public entertainments are given during the year in which as many cadets are given a part as possible. Extemporaneous, impromptu and set speeches and declamations form a part of the regular instruc- tion in the English classes. Miscellaneous Subjects - p v J On the ground that while it is no particular credit to be a good speller, it is a great discredit to be a poor speller, a daily spelling lesson is required of every cadet. e There are several classes in penmanship for the younger boys and for others that desire the work-compulsory for all that are deficient in the art. Captain Bates has aroused considerable interest in the subject and has developed a large number of very excellent penmen. Because of the beneficial effects of singing, and the pleasure most boys find in singing good school, popular, and sacred songs, the morning exercises usually include singing. As seen in the outline of the English work given below, a great deal of en- couragement is given to the reading of good books and magazines. The school possesses a very superior library and a great deal of use is made of it. Every boy has at least one formal recitation a week in Current Events. Sundays and Mondays r The School is divided into Bible Q V 1 classes, which meet with the teachers T T -Sunday morning. The Bible is studied from the standpoint of history, liter- ature, and morality, and with no in- tention of impressing the tenets of any particular creed on the minds of the students. Church attendance Sunday morning is required. Cadets that are members of churches go to their own church. S ' . Cadet Room . Sunday afternoon every boy is required to write a letter home. The contents are not examined, the letter being entirely private in its nature, and the School supervising the matter merely enough to know that the letter is written and page thirteen

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boy may at first think it a bit strenuous, but he soon learns the invaluable lesson that duties are to be performed and performed on time. The really energetic and ambitious boy realizes that it offers him a rare opportunity for advancement, for the idler does not hold him back. The excellence of the system is attested by the fact that the scholarship winners are frequently boys that have done poorly in high school. When a boy has the right stuff in him, he is willing and anxious to be held to a high standard. Small Classes A powerful contributor to good individual work is the small size of the classes. An average of twelve boys to a class is maintained. Large classes, with the con- sequent lack of attention to the individual student and his peculiarities and needs, are not to be found here. With small classes we are able to find the needs of every boy and meet them. The recitation periods are forty minutes long, laboratory, typewriting, and manual training periods are eighty. Study Halls The average boy while preparing his lessons needs a good deal of attention in the way of assistance, encouragement, and supervision 5 for this reason he is required to prepare his lessons in the study hall during the day and the evening under the direction of a teacher. Absolute order, perfect quiet, and strict atten- tion to lessons are required and maintained. Long experience has shown here and elsewhere that this system is preferable to any other. Two evening study halls are maintained and are presided over by the best teachers obtainable. The boys that stand highest in scholarship and deportment are allowed to study in their rooms. The number varies from thirty to fifty per cent of the corps each week. Two Views of The Old Main Study Hall i gn fir, fjjiifi LJ page twelve

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